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Rep. Black: Now Is a Time to Expand Gun Rights, Not Restrict Them

June 16, 2016

Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Diane Black (R-TN-06) released the following statement on reports that the U.S. Senate has agreed to hold a vote on gun control measures after a filibuster by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT):

“Anyone who thinks that another gun control law will thwart the will of a radical Islamist who is intent on taking innocent life is delusional,” said Congressman Diane Black. “As a firearm owner myself, I believe that instead of eroding the 2nd Amendment, we must expand these rights so that Americans are empowered to protect themselves from those who would do us harm. This means passing legislation like the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act, so that law abiding citizens can take their firearms with them wherever they may travel within the United States. It also means curtailing the use of so-called ‘gun free zones’ – which is exactly where this terrorist attack in Orlando occurred. My greatest wish in the wake of this atrocity is that an armed civilian bystander would have been able to apprehend this terrorist before he inflicted further harm, but under Florida state law, such a person would have been committing a crime themselves.”

Congressman Black continued, “The proposals slated to be considered in the Senate will only serve to deny Americans their right to due process and risk disarming citizens who have committed no crime. If such measures come before the House, I will vote against them. It is time our lawmakers read their Bill of Rights and took the words ‘shall not be infringed’ to heart.”